Things Once Hidden
2 Minutes Read Time
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Tran-for-websiteText:
Among the early arrivals / the island Pulau Bidong / before us / uninhabited / archipelago / night float downriver / spilling into a sea storm / in the overheated engine an explosion / a sweat-smooth shield / salt spray over gunnel / the intricate latticework of gauze / foamy across the mechanic’s blistering chest / our heavy / fishing boat bobbing like a lump in the throat
Braided rope around my waist / the four of us bound / tossed / together / momentary relief / then a flag-flapping boat / throttles nearer / and the men jump / kick punch smash / a hole in the hull / sanctuary for the unseaworthy / for children destined / to drown / towed / instead / carried on the shoulders of a swimmer / over the reef / where tiny fish dart / hiding from our shadows
Blowing to cool a tin can of warmed milk / through the steam my sister / smiling / black and white photo / chalk-written caption / our name / birth date of arrival / a dappled hillside clearing / makeshift / kitchen / we rinse spoiled rice in rationed water / down at the beach / my architect dad rolls giant boulders / linking limbs a chain / to engineer a jetty / he whistles through the jungle to us / later alone beyond breakers / he waves an arc of light / a human analog signal
It’s like this every day / my mom asking for word of her sister / newcomers / old friends / some of them famous / musicians composers writers / escaping with notebooks and instruments / instead of coats / they come to warm around our fire / no bedtime / she has us offering around tea or improvised / desserts / dark tattered voices singing remnants of anthems
Humid mornings swollen with bugbites / games drawn in dirt / below us camp / thickened / a black market / dealing / dominoes fish sauce / news / all the while we braided little rag dolls / she brushed our baby / teeth with cloth around her finger / and when those fell out / she tucked each pearly root / deep in the fraying hem of mended pockets
Read more from Issue 18.1.